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Memorial  address  delivered 


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JUN  .17  1912 

MEMORIAL    ADDRESS 


DELIVERED    BEFORE    THE 


Second  Presbyterian  Church 


AND   SOCIETY   OF    CINCINNATI. 


s  TJ  ]sr  HD  j^. -y    e^ve;  asr  I  jsr  a-,    j^.i'itiXj    28,    i872 


By    NATHANIEL    WRIGHT. 


Printed  by  the  Session. 


CINCINNATI : 

ROBERT    CLARKE    &    CO. 

1873. 


The  Church  edifice  of  "  The  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  and  Society  of  Cincinnati,"  on  Fourth  Street^ 
having  been  sold^  the  purchaser  to  take  possession  on  the 
first  of  May,  the  last  Religious  Services  of  the  Society  in  the 
Church  were  held  on  Sunday  evening y  April  28,  i  872.  The 
services  commenced  with  the  usual  exercises  of  the  day,  singing, 
and  prayer  by  the  Pastor,  followed  by  a  Memorial  Address, 
by  Nathaniel  Wright,  Senior  Elder  of  the  Church. 


ADDRESS. 


It  is  useful  in  human  life  occasionally  to  pause  and 
review  the  past.  Experience  is  a  wise  teacher.  Not 
only  the  difficulties  and  successes,  the  mistakes  and  the 
achievements  of  ourselves,  but  also  of  those  who  have 
gone  before  us,  are  lessons  to  be  studied  for  our  own 
good.  Now  and  then  some  crisis  in  affairs,  some 
transition  from  old  scenes  to  new,  seem  to  call  upon  us 
especially  for  such  review.  The  benefits  of  it  are  not 
merely  the  instruction  it  may  impart.  But  more  than 
this,  it  serves  to  keep  alive  in  our  hearts  our  sympathy 
with  our  Fathers — with  those  who  have  gone  before 
us — to  bind  together  the  past  and  the  present  genera- 
tions in  bonds  of  perpetual  love. 

We  are  about  to  leave  this  house  in  which  we  have 
worshiped  so  long,  and  to  occupy  another.  To  many 
of  us  the  associations  of  the  place  are  touching  and 
strong — to  all  of  us  they  are  interesting.  Here,  for 
forty-two  years,  from  week  to  week,  we  have  listened 
to  the  truths  of  God,  seeking  to  train  us  for  duty  and 
for  heaven;  here,  from  time  to  time,  we  have  met  our 
Redeemer  at  his  board,  to  quicken  our  remembrance 
of  him  and  our  love ;   here,  some  of  us  have  first  felt 


[6] 

the  love  of  Jesus  and  professed  his  name  before  men  ; 
here,  our  children  have  been  baptized  and  grown  up 
with  us  in  the  wt>rship  of  the  Most  High  ;  here,  in  the 
Sunday-schools  so  many  have  been  trained  in  the  paths 
of  piety ;  here,  we  have  so  often  met  the  kind,  familiar 
faces  of  each  other,  and  felt  the  powerful  sympathy  of 
social  devotion.  But  all  material  things  of  earth  must 
pass  away.  Their  u^es  are  temporary,  and  we  must 
learn  to  part  with  them  cheerfully.  "  Set  not  your 
affections  on  them,"  says  the  apostle. 

But  the  associations  of  the  place  and  its  history  are 
not  to  be  parted  with.  They  are  to  be  cherished  as  a 
part  of  the  life  of  the  church,  to  be  carried  with  it  to 
its  new  abode  and  be  remembered  perpetually.  It  has, 
therefore,  been  thought  proper,  that,  before  leaving  the 
house,  we  should  spend  an  hour  together  in  reviewing 
its  past;  that  when  we  bid  farewell  to  the  building,  we 
may  take  with  us  all  the  influences  for  good  associated 
with  it.  The  speaker  has  been  selected  for  this  service 
by  reason  of  his  long  connection  with  the  society,  and 
he  begs  your  indulgence  and  your  patience ;  for  I  do 
not  feel  like  attempting  a  formal,  dignified  address — 
rhetorical  display  "  plays  round  the  head,  but  comes 
not  to  the  heart."  I  would  speak  to  you,  my  brethren 
and  friends,  in  the  free,  familiar  way  of  a  brother  in  a 
family  circle.  I  would  aid  you  in  keeping  in  memory 
the  incidents,  the  persons,  the  labors,  the  feelings  of 
the  church  and  the  dealings  of  God  with  us  ;  in  a  word, 
all    those    associations    which    constitute    the    personal 


[7] 

Identity  of  a  church,  which  make  it  seem  the  same  after 
all  its  members  have  changed. 

There  is  an  incident  in  the  history  of  the  Hebrews 
which  illustrates  this  idea,  and  shows  the  power  of  these 
memories  of  the  past.  The  Israelites  had  been  released 
from  centuries  of  bondage  in  Egypt,  had  spent  forty 
years  of  wandering  life  in  the  wilderness,  had  reached 
the  banks  of  the  Jordan,  across  which  lay  their  perma- 
nent home — the  home  in  which  they  and  their  children, 
from  generation  to  generation,  were  to  be  trained  in  the 
service  of  God. 

At  this  juncture,  Moses,  the  man  of  God,  that  great 
and  good  man,  the  noblest  character  in  all  human  his- 
tory— who  can  think  of  him  without  excitement — • 

"  This  was  the  truest  warrior 
That  ever  buckled  sword  ; 
This  the  most  gifted  poet 
That  ever  breathed  a  word  ; 
And  never  earth's  philosopher 
Traced,  with  his  golden  pen, 
On  the  deathless  page,  truths  half  so  sage 
As  he  wrote  down  for  men." 

Moses,  I  say,  makes  to  the  nation  his  parting  ad- 
dress. He  was  not  allowed  to  pass  over  the  Jordan. 
God  had  appointed  his  unknown  grave  in  a  vale  among 
the  mountains  of  Moab.  This  address  is  the  book  of 
Deuteronomy,  strictly  a  memorial  address,  recalling  to 
mind  the  events  of  their  past  history  and  the  dealings 
of  God  with  them — so  touching  in  sympathy  for  the 
people  he  had  led  so  long  and  loved  so  well,  though 


[8] 

they  had  grieved  him  so  sorely.  These  memories  of 
the  past,  so  woven  into  the  hearts  of  that  people,  have 
preserved  their  ^national  identity  for  more  than  three 
thousand  years. 

To  refer  to  such  wonderful  history  in  illustration  of 
the  humble  affairs  of  one  little  church,  may  seem  osten- 
tatious. But  is  it  really  so  ?  Is  not  the  mission  of  the 
Christian  church  a  higher  and  a  nobler  service  than  even 
that  of  the  Jews?  Their  mission  was  to  keep  alive 
upon  earth  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God;  but  it  was 
confined  to  their  own  nation.  Ours  is,  to  spread  the 
light  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  over  all 
the  world.  Their  history,  with  its  awful  demonstrations 
of  Almighty  power,  its  earthquakes,  and  thunders,  and 
pestilence,  was  terrible  to  the  human  senses.  Ours  is 
the  quiet  and  gentle  influence  of  kindness  and  love — 
the  silent  dew,  the  mild  sunshine,  so  blessing  all  the 
earth — a  power  surpassing  all  other  among  men,  for  it 
comes  down  from  heaven  and  God  is  Love.  "  Not  by 
might  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord." 
Surely  such  service  is  worthy  all  our  efforts.  It  is  in 
this  service,  like  the  Jews  of  old,  that  we  cherish  these 
memories  of  the  past  among  ourselves. 

I  propose  to  speak  first  of  the  secular  affairs  of  the 
society ;  then  of  the  church  proper  and  its  doings,  its 
members  and  their  social  influences. 

The  first  records  of  the  society  are  January  29,  18  16, 
though  its  organization  was  not  authoritatively  settled 
till  1 8 17.  It  originated  virtually  in  a  small  colony 
from  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  city.      If  there 


[9] 

was  anything  of  the  workings  of  imperfect  human  na- 
ture on  either  side  in  that  origin,  it  was  no  marvel  upon 
earth.  They  were  pious  and  devoted  people.  If  we 
can  esteem  and  love  only  those  who  are  perfect,  where 
in  this  world  shall  we  find  anybody  to  love  ?  Nay, 
where  shall  we  find  anybody  to  love  us  ? 

They  began  few  in  number  and  a  feeble  society. 
They  worshiped  for  some  two  years  in  such  rooms  as 
they  could  find  about  the  city,  in  private  houses,  in 
school-rooms  and  the  like.  In  an  application  to  the 
Presbytery  for  a  minister  to  supply  them,  they  offer 
the  sum  of  $550  per  annum.  In  1817  or  1818  they 
erected  a  small  frame  building  on  the  east  side  of  Wal- 
nut street,  a  little  north  of  Fifth,  where  they  continued 
to  worship  for  about  twelve  years.  The  erection  of  this 
humble  building  cost  them  not  a  little  of  trouble  and 
anxiety.  One  of  those  mothers  in  Israel  used  to  relate 
that  at  one  time  they  were  stopped  in  the  work  for  want 
of  lumber;  they  had  not  been  able  to  lay  it  in  before- 
hand, and  there  was  none  in  the  city,  and  none  expected. 

They  had  a  prayer-meeting  at  her  house,  and,  among 
other  things,  prayed  earnestly  that  God  would  help 
them  along  with  the  work.  Next  morning  some  of  the 
members  happening  to  be  at  the  river,  saw  a  raft  of 
lumber  afloat  which  the  men  aboard  could  not  land  for 
want  of  help.  So  they  hurried  out,  helped  them  ashore, 
and  in  return  got  a  supply  of  lumber  very  cheap,  and 
thanked  God  for  it.  The  architect  of  the  court-house 
had  a  lot  of  window-sash,  which,  through  some  mistake, 


[10] 

would  not  fit,  and  gave  them  to  the  church  at  half  price. 
Thus  it  was  that  little  church  was  built. 

The  salary  of, Mr.  Root,  the  first  settled  pastor,  was 
nominally  one  thousand  dollars;  but  it  was  fixed  at  a 
time  when  the  circulating  medium  here  was  greatly  de- 
preciated, and  ultimately  contracts  of  that  period  were 
generally  settled  at  one-third  discount  for  specie;  so 
that  Mr.  Root  received  only  six  hundred  and  sixty-six 
dollars  in  coin.  I  presume  his  salary  was  ultimately 
raised  above  that  sum,  though  I  find  no  record  of  it. 

In  1827  the  subject  of  building  a  new  church  was 
agitated,  and  meetings  held  on  the  subject.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  solicit  subscriptions,  and  after 
one  or  two  failures,  a  plan  of  subscription  was  adopted, 
giving  to  the  subscribers  the  control  in  building  the 
church.  Under  this  plan  about  one-third  of  the  ulti- 
mate cost  was  raised,  and  it  was  decided  to  go  on  with 
the  work,  trusting  to  Providence  for  the  rest.  The 
location  was  a  matter  of  much  discussion.  Different 
sites  were  talked  of,  somewhat  out  of  the  way,  costing 
some  two  thousand  dollars  more  or  less.  But  there  was 
among  us  a  presentiment  that  the  church  was  to  become 
a  distinguished  one,  and  perhaps  a  little  of  worldly  am- 
bition to  make  it  so.  This  spot  was  selected  as  pecu- 
liarly eligible;  central,  conspicuous,  yet  retired  and 
quiet.  There  were  then  scarcely  any  buildings  on  the 
square,  and  no  business  on  Fourth  street.  In  the 
spring  of  1828,  a  contract  of  purchase  was  made  with 
the  Bank  of  the  United  States  for  five  thousand  dol- 
lars. 


[11] 

The  subscribers  appointed  a  building  committee,  to 
whom  was  intrusted  the  entire  and  exclusive  care  of 
erecting  the  building,  and  doing  everything  relating 
thereto.  The  society,  as  such,  did  not  interfere  in  the 
matter.  The  design  in  selecting  this  committee  was  to 
include  in  it  all  those  leading  business  men  of  the  soci- 
ety, who  felt  a  special  interest  in  it  and  were  willing  to 
devote  their  time  to  the  object,  and  their  means,  so  far 
as  they  were  able.  Thus  it  was  in  fact  the  substance  of 
the  society  for  pecuniary  purposes. 

This  committee  were  Jacob  Burnet,  Martin  Baum, 
John  H.  Groesbeck,  Timothy  S.  Goodman,  Jonathan 
Bates,  John  T.  Drake,  Henry  Starr,  and  Nathaniel 
Wright. 

The  first  three,  Burnet,  Baum,  and  Groesbeck,  were 
the  leading  members,  pillars  of  strength  wherever  they 
stood.  Judge  Burnet  is  known  to  all  who  know  the 
history  of  our  state  or  the  nation.  Probably  no  other 
man  has  exerted  so  great  influence  in  the  judicial  and 
legislative  affairs  of  the  state.  He  was  a  good^  as  well 
as  a  great  man.  He  was  not  a  member  of  the  church ; 
but  those  who  knew  him  intimately,  knew  him  to  be  an 
earnest  follower  of  the  Redeemer,  and  that  he  had  some 
peculiar  technical  reasons  for  not  uniting  with  the 
church. 

Martin  Baum  was  a  distinguished  merchant  of  the 
earliest  period  of  the  city,  proverbial  for  unostentatious 
honesty.  The  German  emigrants  over  the  country  were 
in  the  habit  of  requirmg  him  to  keep  their  money  for 
them.     He  was  of  cultivated  taste  in  architecture,  and 


[12] 

procured  from  Maryland  the  distinguished  architect 
who  planned  and  superintended  the  building. 

John  H.  Gro^sbeck  was  long  a  model  merchant  and 
banker;  one  who  did  so  much  to  maintain  a  high  tone 
of  mercantile  integritv  in  the  city.  He  was  one  of  the 
kindest  and  best  men  that  ever  lived. 

Among  the  junior  members  of  the  committee,  Tim- 
othy S.  Goodman  was  probably  the  oldest;  a  man  of 
modest  and  retiring  disposition,  highly  esteemed  by  all, 
long  a  successful  merchant  and  banker,  though  finally 
overtaken  by  adversity. 

Jonathan  Bates  and  John  T.  Drake  also  were  mer- 
chants, men  of  sterling  worth  and  highly  respected. 

Henry  Starr  was  a  lawyer  of  distinguished  talents 
and  learning — distinguished  by  the  epithet,  an  honest 
lawyer — distinguished  also  by  the  out-spoken  frank- 
ness— abruptness  even — with  which  he  would  condemn 
or  check  anything  which  he  disapproved.  One  Sunday 
during  service  here,  the  organ  continued  to  play,  after 
the  minister  had  risen  in  the  pulpit  to  proceed,  the  or- 
ganist being  a  new  hand  or  inattentive.  Mr.  Starr 
started  up  in  that  aisle,  and  called  out  in  a  voice  which 
made  the  house  ring,  "  Stop  that  noise  !" 

Of  the  remaining  member  of  the  committee,  I  have 
nothing  to  say,  for  you  see  he  is  yet  alive  :  all  the  others 
are  gone,  though  the  widows  of  three  of  them  still  re- 
main :  Mrs.  Goodman,  Mrs.  Drake  (now  Mrs.  Strong), 
and  Mrs.  Bates,  President  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  ;  all 
honored  and  blessed  in  the  decline  of  life. 

This  committee  had  a  laborious  and  difficult  task  in 


[13] 

building  the  church.  They  took  hold  of  it  and  man- 
aged it  as  a  work  of  their  own,  expecting  to  be  person- 
ally responsible  for  the  expense  incurred.  Ultimately 
some  of  them  doubled  their  subscriptions ;  they  bor- 
rowed money  on  their  individual  responsibility ;  ad- 
vanced money  in  various  ways;  and  finally  several  who 
had  thus  become  large  creditors,  received  pews  in 
payment  of  their  claims.  The  whole  cost  was  about 
$30,000.  We  had  much  difficulty  in  raising  the  money. 
With  such  men  engaged,  some  of  whom  have  since 
ranked  as  men  of  large  wealth,  you  can  hardly  realize 
this  difficulty.  But  we  must  look  back  to  those  times; 
and  financial  matters  as  they  then  were.  The  city  had 
passed  through  a  most  remarkable  and  instructive  expe- 
rience. The  war,  which  attracted  so  much  attention  to 
the  west,  closed  about  the  beginning  of  18 15.  For 
three  or  four  years  after  that,  emigration  was  flowing  in 
torrents  into  all  this  region,  creating  great  demand  for 
real  estate.  Everybody  was  excited  with  the  universal 
prosperity.  All  were  investing  their  money  in  lands. 
Near  the  close  of  18 18,  the  reverse  and  the  revulsion 
came.  All  the  local  banks,  which  furnished  the  entire 
circulating  medium  here,  suspended  payment  and  finally 
wound  up  their  affairs.  For  three  or  four  years  we 
struggled  on  with  their  largely  depreciated  notes,  for 
there  was  no  other  money.  The  Branch  of  the  United 
States  Bank  for  awhile  received  them,  but  finally  de- 
manded specie  or  its  equivalent.  That  was  not  to  be 
had,  and  in  the  fall  of  1820,  its  current  paper  was  nearly 
all  protested,  some  million  and  a  half  in  amount,  and 


[14] 

judgments  generally  recovered  therefor  in  the  United 
States  court,  in  1822.  The  old  business  men  were 
generally  broken,up.  Those  who  had  real  estate  seemed 
the  worst  off,  for  they  could  hardly  pay  their  taxes. 
Nobody  would  buy  lands  at  any  price,  for  the  public 
had  become  thoroughly  sick  of  them.  Men  whose  real 
estate  has  since  been  counted  by  millions,  considered 
themselves  insolvent. 

In  1824,  affairs  began  slowly  to  improve,  but  up  to 
the  time  of  building  the  church,  lands  generally  were  a 
drug  in  market,  in  no  way  available  as  money  to  the 
owners.  The  junior  members  of  our  committee  were 
mostly  young  in  business  and  of  limited  means.  You 
will  see,  therefore,  that  for  us  the  work  we  had  under- 
taken  was  no  trifle.     In  ready  cash  we  were  all  poor. 

There  is  a  lesson  here  which  should  not  be  forgotten. 
Some  of  the  debts  hung  over  us  like  a  dead  weight  for 
a  long  time ;  and  a  dead  weight  they  truly  were,  as  any 
man  will  realize  who  can  't  pay  his  honest  debts.  The 
last  of  four  payments  for  the  ground  fell  due  May  i, 
1831  ;  one  installment  only  had  been  paid.  The  bank 
afterward  got  judgment  in  ejectment  and  might  have 
turned  us  out  of  the  house  at  any  moment.  Finally, 
about  ten  years  after  the  purchase,  in  January,  1838, 
the  matter  was  settled  by  taking  a  deed  and  giving  a 
note  and  mortgage  for  the  balance  due,  $4,367,  payable 
in  July  of  that  year.  Even  this  note  laid  over  and 
judgment  was  recovered  on  it,  and  the  church  advertised 
for  sale  on  execution  years  afterward.  We  were  not 
worse  than  other  people;   but  we  did  not  realize  till  it 


[15] 

was  too  late,  the  discredit  to  the  cause  and  the  disad- 
vantage to  the  church  of  debts  hanging  over  it. 

The  labors  of  the  committee  in  detail  will  be  of  little 
interest.  Mr.  Walters,  the  architect,  superintended  all 
the  details  of  the  work,  and  that  with  such  integrity  and 
skill  as  resulted  in  great  economy.  There  were  no 
lumping  contracts.  The  committee  met  regularly  twice 
a  week  for  some  time,  and  afterward  once,  spending  an 
afternoon  or  evening  discussing  matters,  sometimes 
sorely  perplexed  how  to  raise  funds  to  keep  on  with  the 
work.  There  never  was  the  least  dissension  among  us. 
If  we  differed  in  opinion,  we  discussed  the  subject  can- 
didly till  we  agreed. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  May  13,  1829,  in  presence 
of  a  large  congregation,  with  appropriate  solemnities. 
Mr.  Root  delivered  an  impressive  address.  In  the 
corner-stone,  the  northeast  corner,  were  deposited  various 
mementos  of  the  time;  among  others,  the  names  of  the 
officers  of  the  church  and  society,  of  various  public 
officers,  of  the  Governor  of  the  State,  Allen  Trimble, 
the  newspapers  of  the  day,  the  population  of  the  city 
(22,000),  the  closing  paragraph  of  the  Pastor's  address 
on  the  occasion,  which  was  as  follows:  "To  God,  who 
loveth  the  gates  of  Zion  more  than  the  dwellings  of 
Jacob,  we  commit  the  interests  of  this  rising  Temple. 
May  it  bless  a  hundred  generations.  Here  may  con- 
verts be  multiplied  as  drops  of  the  morning  dew,  and 
an  immense  number  be  qualified  for  heaven.  May  its 
walls  be  called  salvation  and  its  gates  praise.  May  it 
stand  a  beacon  to  invite  the  stranger  and  the  heavy  laden 


[16] 

sinner  to  recline  under  its  shadow  and  to  receive  its  con- 
solations, until  the  last  shock  of  time  shall  demolish 
the  stablest  works  of  man,  and  the  general  conflagration 
of  the  world  wind  up  the  arcana  of  nature." 

During  the  ensuing  year  the  building  was  completed, 
and  on  the  20th  of  May,  1830,  was  publicly  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  the  Triune  God.  The  Pastor,  in  his 
address  on  that  occasion,  says,  "  My  brethren,  ye  have 
built  a  house  of  prayer  unto  the  Lord.  Be  not  high- 
minded,  but  fear,  lest  ye  be  likened  unto  those  who 
'built  the  tombs  of  the  prophets,  and  garnished  the 
sepulchres  of  the  righteous.'  Though  this  building  is 
honorable  to  this  growing  city,  and  confers  deserved 
commendation  upon  those  who  have  reared  it,  and  com- 
modiously  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  worship,  it  is  not 
necessarily  the  gate  of  heaven.  It  is  possible  for  you  to 
perish  from  the  inner  courts  of  the  sanctuary,  and  from 
the  very  horns  of  the  altar." 

The  building  was  regarded  as  an  ornament  to  the 
young  city — was  commended  by  the  press  as  a  work  of 
art,  a  specimen  of  a  chaste  style  of  architecture,  a  Gre- 
cian chapel  with  a  Doric  portico,  a  style  which  has  stood 
the  criticism  of  two  thousand  years  ;  and  it  does,  in 
fact,  compare  favorably  with  the  gaudy  and  costly  style 
of  churches,  which  has  since  become  fashionable. 

The  society  was  incorporated  by  act  of  the  legislature 
of  February  11,  1829. 

The  first  board  of  trustees  under  the  charter  was 
elected  May  4,  1829,  and  were  Jacob  Burnet,  Martin 
Baum,  John   H.  Groesbeck,  Nathaniel  Wright,  Timo- 


[17] 

thy  S.  Goodman,  Jesse  Kimball,  and  John  T.  Drake. 
The  next  year  Henry  Starr  and  William  W.  Green, 
(son  of  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  church,) 
were  elected  in  place  of  Kimball,  and  Drake,  the  latter 
having  died  the  winter  preceding.  Soon  after,  Jona- 
than Bates  came  into  the  board  and  a  majority  of  these 
were  generally  re-elected,  from  year  to  year,  for  ten  or 
twelve  years,  and  some  for  twenty  years  or  more. 

The  city  had  a  large  clock,  with  no  place  to  put  it, 
and  in  January,  183  i,  the  use  of  the  tower  and  the  bell 
was  granted  them  for  it,  and  there  it  still  remains. 

In  1837,  the  organ  was  put  up,  having  been  con- 
structed for  the  society  in  Cambridge,  Massachusetts, 
under  the  care  of  Timothy  B.  Mason,  at  a  cost  of  three 
thousand  dollars,  besides  incidentals,  which  was  paid  by 
private  subscriptions. 

Thus  the  work  was  finished,  as  you  see  it  now,  except 
the  colored  glass  and  the  two  south  windows  closed, 
matters  done  long  after,  under  the  name  of  improve- 
ments. Since  then  we  have  progressed,  in  secular 
affairs,  in  the  common-place  routine  of  like  societies, 
with  some  difficulties  and  embarrassments;  but  we  have 
paid  off  all  our  debts  and  been  generally  prosperous. 

I  come  now  to  speak  of  the  church  proper,  the  life 
and  soul  of  all  this  secular  labor.  True,  the  church  has 
its  secular  cares  and  troubles;  for  it  works  among  men 
and  is  managed  by  them;  but  the  essence  of  it  is,  the 
spiritual  and  the  heavenly. 

In  speaking  of  Christians  and  their  doings,  we  can 
not  be  too  often  reminded,  that  they  are  but  human 


[18] 

beings  ;  of  course  frail  and  fallible,  liable  to  mistakes 
and  misjudgments,  earnest  in  their  feelings  in  propor- 
tion to  the  importance  of  the  cause.  We^  frail  as  they, 
are  not  to  sit  in  judgment  on  them.  "Judge  not,  that 
ye  be  not  judged."  There  may  be  more  than  a  mote 
in  our  own  eyes,  when  we  attempt  to  pick  one  out  of 
theirs.  Yet  it  is  not  improper,  in  giving  the  history  of 
good  men,  to  refer  to  their  faults  as  well  as  their  vir- 
tues. The  faults  of  our  Lord's  disciples  are  fully  and 
freely  told,  and  so  of  all  the  best  characters  in  the 
Bible. 

During  the  year  1814  or  18 15,  some  members  of  the 
first  church,  with  others,  applied  to  Presbytery  for  the 
organization  of  a  second  church,  which  was  not  granted; 
and  from  the  action  of  Presbytery  some  of  the  par- 
ties took  the  matter  to  Synod.  The  Synod  directed 
the  Presbytery  to  consider  the  matter,  indicating  that, 
if  they  found  a  sufficient  number  of  suitable  persons 
desiring  it,  such  church  should  be  established.  Pursu- 
ant to  this  direction,  a  special  meeting  of  Presbytery 
was  called  for  January  3,  18 16.  This  meeting  was  a 
long,  arduous,  and  excited  one,  and  a  real  curiosity  in 
church  history.  Adjourning  from  the  6th  to  the  17th 
of  the  month,  they  occupied  seven  days  exclusively  on 
this  subject.  Only  three  members,  one  being  an  elder, 
acted  and  voted  in  the  opposition,  but  they  were  earnest 
and  persevering,  and  skillful  in  parliamentary  tactics. 
A  multitude  of  questions,  dilatory  or  otherwise,  were 
raised  and  disposed  of,  and  at  last,  on  the  19th  of  Jan- 
uary,   Presbytery  reached  a  final  vote  pa   the   merits. 


[19] 

By  that  vote  they  established  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  directing  its  records  to  commence  from  that 
date,  and  appointed  the  Rev.  James  Kemper  to  preach 
for  them.  From  this  decision  appeal  was  taken  to 
Synod. 

At  the  session  of  Presbytery,  in  Dayton,  April  2, 
1816,  the  matter  was  brought  up  again,  and  that  body, 
by  a  majority  of  one — two  members  not  voting — voted 
to  reconsider  the  proceedings  of  January  19th,  and 
passed  an  order  restraining  the  members  from  acting  as 
a  church,  and  agreed  to  hold  a  meeting  at  Lebanon, 
June  25th,  to  consider  the  whole  matter.  At  Lebanon, 
the  Presbytery,  after  discussion,  referred  the  whole  sub- 
ject to  Synod.  Thus  the  whole  matter  on  both  sides 
was  before  that  body;  and  in  October,  18 16,  the  Synod 
set  aside  the  proceedings  at  Dayton  as  irregular,  and 
confirmed  the  original  action  of  Presbytery,  establishing 
the  church.  From  this  decision  an  appeal  was  taken  to 
the  General  Assembly.  At  the  meeting  of  that  body 
in  May,  18 17,  this  appeal  was  taken  up,  and  after  some 
discussion  the  appeal  was  withdrawn  by  the  appellants. 
This  was  the  final  end  of  the  controversy.  The  effect 
of  it  was  to  leave  the  order  of  January  19th,  establish- 
ing the  church,  in  full  force. 

During  the  pendency  of  this  litigation,  the  church 
seems  to  have  been  in  doubt  as  to  what  they  were 
authorized  to  do  in  the  way  of  organization,  and  ap- 
pointed four  members,  by  the  name  of  trustees,  with 
authority  to  attend  to  the  admission  of  members,  and 
under  their  supervision  several  were  admitted. 


[20] 

On  the  29th  of  January,  ten  days  after  the  original 
order  of  the  Presbytery  establishing  the  church,  is  their 
first  meeting  appearing  of  record.  The  members  were 
eleven  in  number,  viz  :  Robert  Wallace  and  his  wife 
Rebecca,  Edith  Wallace,  Mrs.  Burnet,  Mrs.  Baum, 
Mrs.  Green,  Jane  Fleming,  Daniel  Tremper,  Henrietta 
Tremper,  Dan  Davis,  and  Sarah  Spinning.  For  some 
time  the  numbers  of  the  church  increased  slowly. 
When  Mr.  Root  came,  three  or  four  years  after,  the 
number  present  was  only  thirty-one.  During  his 
ministry,  344  were  added. 

The  organization  of  the  church  being  authoritatively 
settled,  they  proceeded,  on  the  loth  of  July,  18 17,  to 
elect  ruling  elders,  and  Robert  Wallace,  Daniel  Trem- 
per, John  Kelso,  and  Jesse  Churchill  were  chosen.  Of 
the  patriarch,  Robert  Wallace,  I  shall  have  occasion  to 
speak  hereafter.  Jesse  Churchill  was  an  interesting  old 
man.  He  had  led  a  seafaring  life,  and  had  his  full 
share  of  wild  adventures  by  sea  and  by  land.  Finally 
his  health  had  failed  him,  and  he  had  come  here  to  end 
his  days  in  quiet,  with  children  who  had  settled  here. 
He  was  a  humble,  devoted  Christian.  One  of  his  sons 
in  some  way  had  occasioned  him  grief,  and  he  used  to 
say,  "Ah!  children,  when  they  are  little,  tread  on  our 
knees  ;  but  when  they  are  old,  they  tread  on  our  hearts." 
Some  here  may  remember  hirn  when  we  first  came  into 
this  house,  seated  there  in  the  aisle,  in  an  easy  chair, 
which  kind  women  of  the  church  had  provided  for  him. 
His  death  was  remarkable.  He  retired  at  night  in 
usual  health,  though  feeble ;   in  the  rriorning,  not  ap- 


[21] 

pearing  at  his    usual   time,   they  went   to   his  bed   and 
found  him  apparently  in  quiet  sleep,  but  he  was  dead. 

Of  subsequent  elders  not  now  living,  there  are  seve- 
ral known  to  you  personally  or  by  reputation  :  John 
Rice,  elected  July,  1821;  James  Mclntyre,  elected 
August,  1824;  Dr.  James  Warren,  and  John  H. 
Groesbeck,  elected  September,  1828  ;  Augustus  Moore, 
elected  March,  1832;  Dr.  Thomas  D.  Mitchell,  after- 
ward medical  professor  in  the  University  at  Lexington, 
Ky.,  elected  January,  1834;  Henry  Starr,  and  Isaac  G. 
Burnet,  so  long  mayor  of  the  city  and  judge  of  the 
first  city  court,  elected  December,  1834;  Dr.  Reuben 
D.  Mussey,  professor  in  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  and 
so  distinguished  in  his  profession  ;  Ebenezer  S.  Padgett 
and  John  C.  Macy,  elected  March,  1840.  All  men  of 
great  worth  and  usefulness. 

It  was  some  time  before  a  pastor  was  settled.  For  a 
considerable  time  Rev.  Samuel  Robinson  supplied  the 
pulpit — a  man  of  learning  and  talents,  but  we  are  com- 
pelled to  remember  his  latter  years  with  sadness.  Rev. 
William  Arthur,  a  good  old  man,  afterward  supplied 
the  pulpit,  and  also  the  Rev.  John  Thomson,  father  of 
the  distinguished  missionary  and  author,  who  has  spent 
a  life  of  great  usefulness  in  Palestine. 

Rev.  David  Root  was  elected  pastor,  September  4, 
1 8 19,  but  did  not  commence  his  services  till  the  latter 
part  of  1820.  He  continued  pastor  till  the  spring  of 
1832,  when  he  resigned.  During  his  pastorate  this 
house  was  erected,  and  the  church  and  congregation  had 


[22] 

largely   increased,    and    taken    a    leading    rank   in    the 
Christian  world. 

Rev.  Lyman  'Beecher  had  been  appointed  professor 
in  Lane  Seminary,  and  came  here  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  that  office,  and  of  President  of  the  Faculty,  in  Nov- 
ember, 1832.  From  that  time  he  supplied  the  pulpit, 
and  was  formally  elected  pastor,  March  11,  1833,  and 
so  continued  to  the  fall  of  1843,  when  he  resigned. 
His  high  reputation  for  talents  and  piety  is  matter  of 
general  history.  He  was  a  man  of  brilliant  intellect, 
of  untiring  zeal  in  the  cause,  and  of  great  usefulness. 
He  was  original  and  somewhat  peculiar,  both  in  man- 
ner and  thought.  In  preaching,  his  most  striking 
passages  seemed  the  inspiration  of  the  moment — when 
he  raised  his  spectacles  to  his  forehead,  and  his  spark- 
ling eyes  to  the  audience,  and  something  came  forth 
which  struck  us  like  electricity.  He  was  deeply  reveren- 
tial at  heart,  though  sometimes  his  strong,  abrupt 
language  seemed  almost  to  belie  it :  as  on  one  occasion 
I  remember  he  said  in  prayer,  "O  Lord,  keep  us  from 
despising  our  rulers,  and  keep  them  from  acting  so 
that  we  ca  n't  help  it." 

It  was  during  his  pastorate  that  the  Old  and  New 
School  controversy  came  to  its  crisis  by  separation. 
It  existed  previously,  and  in  sympathy  with  our  pastor, 
Mr.  Root,  without  any  formal  action,  we  had  drifted  into 
the  New  School  party.  Indeed,  the  controversy  seems 
not  to  have  been  one  belonging  to  common  people,  but 
rather  one  of  theological  science;  and  if  a  layman  may 
be  allowed  to  say  it,  savored  somewhat  of  the  specula- 


[23] 

tions  of  human  reason  on  matters  above  human  ken. 
Dr.  Beecher  went  through  a  long  trial  for  heresy  in  this 
house.  But  the  sooner  these  things  are  forgotten  the 
better.  No  doubt  many  who  wrangled  on  earth  are 
rejoicing  together  in  heaven.  Charity  is  the  chief  jewel 
in  Christian  character. 

Under  Dr.  Beecher  a  special  effort  was  made  to 
cherish  congregational  singing.  A  church  singing- 
school,  including  very  young  children,  met  every  week, 
and  gave  occasional  concerts.  The  theory  was,  that 
almost  every  child  may  learn  to  sing,  if  he  begins  early 
enough  ;  and  that  the  power  of  this  exhilarating  branch 
of  worship  would  be  largely  increased  by  the  congrega- 
tion at  large  uniting  in  it,  as  is  illustrated  anywhere  by 
the  effect  of  a  popular  song  in  a  crowd. 

In  the  spring  of  1843,  a  colony  of  ^6  was  dismissed 
from  this  church  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the 
George  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  since  known  as  the 
Seventh  Street  Church. 

The  whole  number  admitted  to  the  church  during 
Dr.  Beecher's  pastorate  was  540,  of  whom  240  were  on 
profession. 

The  Rev.  John  P.  Cleveland  was  elected  pastor 
August  2,  1843,  and  commenced  his  services  near  the 
close  of  that  year,  and  resigned  the  charge  in  December, 
1845.  During  his  brief  pastorate  57  were  admitted  to 
the  church,  of  whom  six  were  on  profession.  He  was 
a  man  of  fluent  eloquence  and  commanding  manner. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Fisher  was  elected  pastor, 
October    26,  1846;   commenced  his  services  in  April, 


[24] 

i847j  ^"d  resigned  in  July,  1858,  to  assume  the  duties 
of  President  of  Hamilton  College,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  to  which  he  had  been  elected.  He  was  a  man 
greatly  beloved  and  esteemed,  of  a  gentle  but  earnest 
nature,  and  of  a  cultivated,  classic  taste.  His  many 
published  sermons  show  his  ability  in  that  department 
of  service ;  but  his  health  was  broken  down  at  last  by 
overburden  of  mental  efforts,  and  he  was  compelled  to 
withdraw  from  all  public  labors. 

Overtaxing  the  mental  powers  !  We  ought  to 
realize  more  than  we  do,  this  terrible  evil,  which  is 
prostrating  so  many  of  the  clergymen  of  the  present 
age.  One  after  another  of  the  ablest  and  best  of  men, 
struck  down  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  life,  and  sent  to 
their  graves,  or  left  to  drag  out  a  feeble  and  useless 
existence  1 

The  simple  toil  of  leading  the  humble  soul  to  the 
Saviour  is  not  exhausting,  but  the  educated  and  culti- 
vated are  not  satisfied  with  this.  To  attract  them 
requires  intellectual  skill  and  power,  and  all  classes 
must  be  approached  with  worldly  wisdom.  Hence  this 
havoc  among  the  clergy  in  our  large  cities.  No  other 
service  among  men  requires  such  intense  and  incessant 
intellectual  effort. 

Among  the  apostles,  Paul  only  occupied  this  field  of 
exhausting  labor.  Observe  how  God  provided  him 
with  rest  and  recreation.  A  large  part  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  traveling.  For  two  whole  years  he  lay  a  quiet 
prisoner  in  Palestine,  and,  for  a  considerable  time  after- 
ward, in  Rome  also.      If  we  must  have  the  intellectual 


[25] 

power  and  labors  of  Paul,  we  must  treat  our  clergy  as 
God  treated  him. 

During  Dr.  Fisher's  pastorate,  426  members  were 
added  to  the  church,  of  whom  178  were  on  profession. 

The  Rev.  M.  L.  P.  Thompson  was  elected  pastor, 
December  15,  1859;  commenced  his  services  in  the 
following  March,  and  resigned  in  May,  1865.  During 
his  pastorate,  229  were  added  to  the  church,  of  whom 
106  were  on  profession.* 

The  Rev.  James  L.  Robertson  was  elected  pastor, 
April  3,  1867  ;  commenced  his  services  in  May  follow- 
ing, and  resigned  about  the  beginning  of  November, 
1870.  During  his  pastorate  127  were  added  to  the 
church,  of  whom  62  were  on  profession.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  great  promise,  of  earnest  and  active 
piety,  of  the  kindest  social  affections  and  manners,  and 
greatly  beloved  by  all.  He  accepted  a  call  to  a  com- 
manding church  in  Rochester,  New  York,  which  was 
peculiarly  attractive  and  promising  to  him,  inasmuch  as 
it  restored  him  to  the  vicinity  of  a  large  circle  of  old 
friends  and  acquaintances. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Skinner,  D.  D.,  our  present 
pastor,  was  elected  July  12,  1871,  and  entered  on  his 
services  about  the  beginning  of  November  of  that  year 
— sent  to  us,  we  feel  assured,  as  a  special  blessing  from 
the  Lord  of  the  vineyard.  If  he  does  not  prove  so,  it 
will  be  our  fault,  not  his. 

I   will  now  speak  briefly  of  some   general  labors  of 

*  In  consequence  of  what  has  transpired  since  the  address  was 
delivered,  a  paragraph  here  is  stricken  out. 


[26] 

the  church  itself,  and  its  members.  The  whole  number 
added  to  the  church  from  its  commencement  to  April 
I,  1872,  as  nearly  accurate  as  I  can  state  it,  is  1,876, 
of  which  847  were  on  profession.  The  numbers  of  the 
congregation  have  never  been  large,  for  the  size  of  the 
house  would  not  permit  it.  There  have  been  several 
interesting  seasons  of  revival,  in  which  considerable 
numbers  of  converts  were  received  into  the  church,  one 
of  the  most  interesting  of  which  was  in  the  spring  of 
1843,  under  Dr.  Beecher.  But  the  largest  part  of  those 
so  received  have  been  in  small  numbers  from  time  to 
time,  scattered  over  the  whole  period,  indicating  a  con- 
tinuous religious  interest. 

The  church  and  society  has  regularly  contributed, 
from  year  to  year,  to  the  various  benevolent  and  relig- 
ious enterprises  of  the  time.  The  total  amount  of  these 
contributions,  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain.  For 
ten  years,  ending  April  i,  1857,  under  Dr.  Fisher,  they 
amounted  to  $70,600.  For  ten  years,  ending  April  i, 
1871,  they  were  $70,090.  These  are  exclusive  of  the 
expenses  of  the  church  for  itself,  its  own  Sunday-school 
and  poor,  which,  for  six  years,  ending  April  i,  1871, 
averaged  a  little  over  $9,000  per  annum. 

In  several  religious  enterprises,  of  great  usefulness, 
some  of  our  members  have  been  especially  active  and 
efficient.  The  Young  Men's  Bible  Society  originated 
in  our  church,  though  not  confined  to  it  in  its  organi- 
zation, and  owes  much  of  its  success  to  some  of  our 
members.  The  Young  Men's  Christian  Union,  also, 
has  derived  much  of  its  energy  and  zeal  from  our  mem- 


[27] 

bers.  In  the  Bethel  cause,  also,  which  has  been  so 
widely  and  so  nobly  sustained,  our  members  have  con- 
tributed their  share,  both  of  service  and  money.  That 
noble  institution,  the  Orphan  Asylum,  owes  a  large 
share  of  its  success  and  good  management  to  the  energy 
and  devotion  of  our  women.  To  the  Lane  Seminary 
and  its  students,  we  have  given  frequent  aid. 

The  Children's  Home  has  been  liberally  aided  by 
some  of  our  members.  Without  ostentation,  it  has 
been  largely  efficient  in  taking  care  of,  and  providing 
for  destitute  children.  It  occupies  the  house  on  Third 
street,  west  of  Elm,  long  known  as  the  residence  of 
George  Williamson. 

The  Young  Women's  Christian  Association,  in  its 
quiet  way,  has  exerted  a  blessed  influence,  and  our 
young  women  have  been  very  active  in  it. 

The  Sewing  Society  of  the  church,  unpretending  and 
almost  unknown,  has  sent  comforts  to  many  naked  and 
destitute. 

The  Ladies'  City  Missionary  Society,  of  our  church, 
with  silent,  persevering  industry,  has  long  been  sending 
the  sound  of  the  Gospel  into  obscure  and  forsaken 
places,  and  to  ears  that  otherwise  would  not  have  heard 
it.  Who  does  not  know  and  revere  that  good  man, 
Horace  Bushnell,  now  old  and  infirm,  so  meek,  so 
faithful,  and  so  wise  in  the  service  of  his  Master ! 

The  Young  Men's  Home  Missionary  Society,  orig- 
inally of  this  church,  has  been  of  great  and  extensive 
usefulness.  It  was  organized  in  1848,  during  Dr. 
Fisher's   pastorate,    with   Wm.    H.    NefF    for   its   first 


[28] 

president,  for  the  immediate  purpose  of  sustaining  a 
missionary  in  Iowa.  Supporting  him  till  he  no  longer 
needed  their  aid,  they  engaged  in  various  missionary 
labors  in  the  city,  employing  in  the  service  young  men 
preparing  for  the  ministry,  and  directing  special  atten- 
tion to  organizing  Sabbath-schools.  The  first  they 
established  was  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  street  and  Cen- 
tral Avenue,  under  the  superintendence  of  William  H. 
Neff,  and  was  highly  successful.  The  second,  on  Fourth 
street,  between  Wood  and  Stone,  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  O.  N.  Bush,  and  was  specially  useful.  The 
third,  near  the  base  of  Mount  Auburn,  afterward  re- 
moved to  Race,  near  Thirteenth  street.  The  fourth,  on 
Poplar  street  near  Freeman,  under  the  superintendence 
of  L.  H.  Sargent  and  H.  B.  Olmstead,  which  finally 
resulted  in  establishing  the  flourishing  church  and  erect- 
ing the  fine  building  there,  so  long  under  the  care  of 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Chester.  The  fifth,  on  Sixth  street, 
west  of  Freeman,  under  the  care  of  Col.  S.  S.  Fisher 
and  L.  R.  Hull,  afterward  permanently  located  on  Carr 
street,  near  Sixth,  and  the  second  school  incorporated 
with  it.  It  is  large  and  flourishing,  has  been  provided 
with  weekly  preaching,  and  very  probably  may  result  in 
the  organization  of  a  church.  Within  a  few  weeks  past, 
it  has  been  transferred  to  the  care  of  the  Third  Presby- 
terian Church.  It  is  known  as  the  Olivet  Mission 
School. 

The  minor  labors  of  this  society  are  various,  for  they 
have  been  very  enterprising.     Their  contributions  have 


[  29  ] 

amounted   to    $7,000  in   a   year,    and   the  number   of 
scholars  in  their  schools  to  1,500. 

The  most  important  of  all  these  enterprises  are  the 
Sunday-schools.  Their  great  object  is,  to  preoccupy 
the  infant  mind  with  the  knowledge  and  the  love  of 
God;  to  surround  it  with  associations  of  piety  and  rec- 
titude, before  it  has  become  contaminated  and  hardened 
by  a  wicked  world.  True,  they  can  not  supply  the 
duty  which  God  has  so  specially  assigned  to  parents. 
But  where  parents  fail,  they  can,  in  some  degree,  sup- 
ply the  defect ;  and  they  ever  aid  parents  by  the  atmos- 
phere of  piety,  which  they  throw  around  the  children. 
There  is  no  estimating  the  numbers  which  have  been 
led  to  heaven  through  this  instrumentality. 

Our  own  Sunday-school  commenced  in  the  earliest 
period  of  the  church.  It  was  then  chiefly  the  work  of 
women.  Dr.  Waldo,  one  of  its  early  superintendents, 
made  its  first  report  to  the  Sunday  School  Union,  in  1827. 
Its  number  was  then  about  300,  meeting  part  of  the 
time  in  the  old  church,  and  part  of  the  time  in  the  old 
Lancaster  Seminary,  where  the  Cincinnati  College  now 
stands.  From  that  time  to  this,  the  school  has  flour- 
ished and  been  greatly  blessed.  It  has  been  well  sup- 
plied with  a  library,  and  several  of  our  young  men 
have  devoted  themselves  to  it  as  superintendents.  The 
young  women  have  been  specially  earnest  and  success- 
ful as  teachers,  and  the  influence  of  woman,  the  old 
and  the  young,  has  been  felt  through  all  its  history, 
breathing  into  it  a  spirit  of  life  and  love,  concentrating 


[30] 

upon  it  the   social   sympathies  of  the  church.      Many 
from  this  school  have  been  added  to  the  church. 

In  February,^  1^70,  another  Sabbath-school  was  or- 
ganized in  the  church,  to  be  held  in  the  afternoon,  for 
the  purpose  of  gathering  in  children  who  did  not  attend 
the  morning  school.  Its  numbers  have  steadily  in- 
creased ;  it  is  now  largely  attended  and  highly  prosper- 
ous. 

The  German  Mission  Sabbath-school  was  established 
by  our  mem  bersin  1846,  Elder  E.  S.  Padgett,  Wm. 
H.  Mussey,  and  Peter  Rudolph  Neff,  being  succes- 
sively the  first  superintendents.  It  was  first  located  at 
the  corner  of  Thirteenth  and  Walnut  streets,  was  sev- 
eral times  removed,  and  obtained  its  largest  growth  (400 
in  number),  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Ninth  and 
Walnut  streets,  under  Mr.  Neff,  a  second  time  superin- 
tendent. It  is  now  located  on  Race  street,  above  Four- 
teenth, and  is  flourishing. 

A  school  for  the  Germans  was  also  established  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  city,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Winness,  under  whose  devoted  labors,  and  the 
aid  of  our  society,  the  school  ripened  into  a  church 
with  a  church  edifice,  and  that  church,  into  a  second 
one  with  like  accommodations,  dr>i,ng  much  good 
among  that  class  of  our  population. 

The  Pilgrim  Mission  School,  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  city,  corner  of  Fifth  and  Lock  streets,  was  estab- 
lished by  some  of  our  members  some  twenty-five  years 
since,  and  has  been  sustained  and  successfully  managed  by 
them.   It  ultimately  resulted  in  a  church  organized  there 


[31] 

by  the  same  name,  which  has  recently  united  with  the 
Broadway  church. 

I  have  already  mentioned  the  five  schools  established 
by  our  Young  Men's  Home  Missionary  Society.  All 
together  they  have  amounted  to  a  very  extensive  and 
very  useful  Sunday-school  influence. 

I  have  been  able  only  to  refer  very  briefly  to  our 
local,  religious,  and  benevolent  enterprises.  It  would 
require  volumes  to  do  full  justice  to  them  all.  In- 
cluding the  national  associations,  we  have  contributed 
habitually  to  about  twenty  such  organizations,  besides 
various  other  occasioned  contributions. 

We  can  not  do  justice  to  the  history  of  our  church, 
perhaps  not  of  any  church,  without  referring  specially 
to  the  influence  of  woman.  It  is  a  power  so  great  in 
its  silent  workings,  that  we  need  to  study  it  well  in  our 
plans  for  usefulness.  And  yet  it  is  a  critical  topic  for 
a  public  speaker,  perhaps  a  dangerous  one,  for  he  may 
bring  upon  himself  the  frowns  of  the  most  worthy  of 
the  sex,  by  seeming  to  trifle  with  the  retiring  delicacy 
of  their  nature.  But  I  will  beg  pardon  in  advance,  de- 
claring that  if  I  should  seem  rude,  I  do  not  intend  it. 

We  can  not  read  any  history  profitably  without  re- 
cognizing the  power  of  woman  for  evil  as  well  as  for 
good.  What  a  sad  thing  for  us  all  was  the  failure  of 
our  mother  Eve  in  the  garden  of  Eden  !  In  Jewish 
history,  Jezebel,  Queen  of  Israel,  daughter  of  a  pagan 
king  and  a  worshiper  of  Baal,  married  her  daughter  to 
a  king  of  Judah,  and  through  her  introduced  pagan  wor- 
ship into  Jerusalem,  the  traces  of  which  continued  there 


[32] 

till  the  time  of  the  captivity,  three  hundred  years  after. 
Her  husband,  Ahab,  had  threatened  the  life  of  Elijah; 
but  the  prophjet  sought  him  and  met  him  face  to  face. 
But  when  Jezebel  made  the  same  threat,  he  fled  for 
his  life  to  the  wilderness.  The  spite  of  a  woman  cost 
John  the  Baptist  his  head ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  love 
and  the  quick  faith  of  woman  were  the  great  comfort  of 
our  Saviour  upon  earth.  When  he  appeared  to  the 
disciples  the  evening  after  the  resurrection,  he  could 
hardly  persuade  them  it  was  himself.  He  had  to  show 
them  his  pierced  hands  and  feet,  to  eat  with  them,  and 
talk  a  long  time  with  them,  before  they  began  to  real- 
ize it.  But  when,  on  the  morning  of  the  same  day, 
Mary  Magdalen  met  him  in  the  garden,  at  first  taking 
him  for  a  stranger,  the  single  word  *'  Mary,"  spoken 
in  his  familiar  voice,  carried  entire  conviction  to  her 
quiet  womanly  heart,  and  she  rushes  up  to  him,  crying 
out,  "  Rabboni,"  as  much  as  to  say,  "  my  dear  Lord." 
It  is  in  connection  with  the  church,  especially,  that 
the  power  of  woman  for  good  is  so  great.  The  founda- 
tion of  that  power  is  love,  the  great  attribute  of  Deity  ; 
that  Divine  love,  which  Christ  came  down  from  heaven 
to  manifest.  With  that  kind  and  gentle  nature  which 
God  has  given  her,  she  melts  hearts  which  are  ice  to  all 
others.  At  home  among  the  little  ones,  in  the  social 
circles  of  life,  even  in  the  contests  and  collisions  of  the 
world,  that  mild  loving  spirit  is  a  power  like  that  of 
angels — silent  and  unseen  it  may  be,  but  it  prevails 
when   all    other  forces  fail.      It   conquers   by  yielding. 


[33] 

What  woman  does  not  know  that  she  can  rule  a  man, 
if  she  will  take  care  not  to  let  him  know  it. 

Some  modern  reformers  seem  to  think  that  the  power 
of  woman  would  be  increased  by  giving  her  the  ballot. 
Alas  for  the  day  when  her  gentle  nature  shall  be  thus 
involved  in  the  coarse  wranglings  of  party  politics  ! — a 
work  which  would  harden  the  heart  of  an  angel,  if  he 
would  meddle  with  it.  It  would  leave  her  but  a  Samp- 
son shorn  of  his  locks. 

Of  the  first  eleven  members  of  this  church,  eight 
were  women.  Tradition  ascribes  to  them  the  principal 
agency  in  the  various  plans  for  religious  culture.  They 
were  the  life  of  the  first  Sunday-school,  four  or  five  of 
them  attended  every  Sunday  to  teach  and  direct ;  they 
collected  the  schools,  provided  the  funds,  and  procured 
superintendents.  From  that  day  to  this,  woman's  in- 
fluence has  been  the  life  and  the  joy  of  the  school.  So 
many  young  women  as  teachers — those  birds  of  Para- 
dise, with  their  little  flocks  around  them,  training  them 
to  remember  and  to  love  their  Creator  and  their  Re- 
deemer; to  be  kind  to  each  other  and  do  right.  With 
what  joy  will  these  scenes  be  recalled  in  future  life ! 
With  what  exceeding  joy  be  remembered  in  heaven  ! 

The  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Ladies'  City  Missionary 
Society,  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association, 
the  Sewing  Society,  the  Children's  Home,  are  charities 
especially  dispensed  by  women,  and  their  great  useful- 
ness is  well  known.  What  multitudes  have  been  res- 
cued   from    ruin,    or  relieved   from    distress    by   these 


[34] 

labors !       In    many   other    benevolent   enterprises,    her 
aid  has  been  an  essential  element. 

But  it  is  not  in  these  public  charities,  important  as 
they  are,  that  the  great  strength  of  female  influence  lies. 
It  lies  in  that  silent,  unseen  power,  to  be  imagined  but 
not  described,  which  God  has  given  to  woman's  love 
over  the  human  soul.  The  infant  in  his  cradle  feels  it, 
the  first  of  his  emotions  ;  the  child  as  he  grows  up  feels 
it,  stronger  than  his  wayward  propensities;  the  youth, 
among  the  temptations  of  vice,  feels  it,  and  is  restrained  ; 
the  young  man,  as  he  begins  to  look  out  on  the  path  of 
life  before  him,  feels  it,  overpowering  all  other  emo- 
tions ;  the  passionate  man,  enraged  by  angry  collisions, 
feels  it,  and  becomes  gentle;  the  old  man,  worn  down 
by  trouble  and  sorrow,  feels  it,  and  is  comforted  ;  even 
the  hardened  old  reprobate,  on  his  way  to  the  gallows, 
feels  it,  remembering  his  mother,  and  sheds  tears. 

Such  is  woman's  power,  and  with  the  guidance  and 
aid  of  the  church,  it  is  immense  for  good.  In  training 
the  young,  in  all  her  social  relations,  in  all  the  sweet 
charities  of  life,  its  silent  influences  are  felt — silent  as 
the  falling  dew  ;  for  these  labors  are  not  to  be  num- 
bered or  proclaimed — are  hardly  known  to  themselves 
even,  the  left  hand  not  knowing  what  the  right  hand 
doeth.  Yet  we  should  learn  to  appreciate  them,  that 
we  may  never  attempt  to  divert  woman  from  her  appro- 
priate sphere. 

In  this  connection,  I  can  hardly  avoid  referring  to 
something  of  family  history  in  the  church,  to  show  how 
these  influences  have  operated.     I  have  been  personally 


[  35  ] 

acquainted,  more  or  less,  with  five  successive  genera- 
tions. I  have  seen  how  the  seed  planted  by  the  first  of 
them  has  grown  and  spread  its  branches  far  and  wide, 
and  more  or  less  of  the  same  fruit  is  found  upon  all. 
Of  several  examples,  I  will  mention  the  one  most  re- 
markable for  the  numbers  involved. 

The  patriarch,  Robert  Wallace,  was  one  of  the  orig- 
inal members  of  the  church,  himself  and  wife  and  four 
daughters,  being  six  of  the  first  eleven  members.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  four  elders.  His  other  children 
were  Mrs.  Wade  and  Mrs.  Perry  ;  Rev.  Matthew  G. 
Wallace,  at  an  early  day  pastor  of  the  first  church;  Rob- 
ert Wallace,  Jr.,  and  David  C.  Wallace,  the  last  unmar- 
ried. 

Six  families  of  these  are  well  known  among  us.  The 
name  of  Wallace  is  blended  with  that  of  Burnet,  Baum, 
Green,  Wade,  Groesbeck,  NeflF,  Shillito,  McLean,  and 
many  others  at  a  later  day  ;  and  the  numerous  descend- 
ants are  found  in  Cincinnati,  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  New 
York,  London,  and  other  places  in  the  interior. 

Mrs.  Burnet  was  a  woman  of  remarkable  energy  and 
devotion  in  the  cause,  as  well  as  of  the  most  untiring 
assiduity  in  all  the  kind  charities  of  life.  She  was  re- 
garded as  a  kind  of  foster-mother  in  the  infancy  of 
the  church.  In  the  first  Sunday-school  she,  with  her 
mother,  Mrs.  Baum,  and  Mrs.  John  H.  Groesbeck, 
attended  every  week,  and  kept  the  school  prospering. 
All  the  sisters  were  active  in  the  church ;  of  the  broth- 
ers, the  clergyman  was  for  many  years  usefully  employed 
in   this   city  and   vicinity,  and   ultimately  permanently 


[36] 

located  in  the  interior  of  Indiana.  The  remaining  mar- 
ried brother  was  well  known  and  respected  here.  He 
is  gone,  but  his 'widow  survives  him,  and  well  is  it  said 
of  HER,  "her  children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed." 

Imagine  the  numerous  descendants  scattered  all  over 
the  land,  with  their  various  associations  of  marriage, 
friendship,  and  social  relations,  involving  thousands 
now,  and  perhaps  millions  hereafter,  and  you  have  some 
idea  of  the  influence  of  that  one  patriarch  Christian  on 
his  race.  As  far  as  we  know  the  descendants,  they  all 
indicate,  more  or  less,  the  effect  of  Christian  training; 
and  we  know  it  is  the  law  of  our  nature,  that  such  train- 
ing will  mark,  if  not  fix,  the  character. 

"Just  as  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree's  inclined." 

In  conclusion,  let  us  look  back  upon  our  history  and 
see  what  there  is  to  be  carried  with  us  in  memory,  when 
we  leave  this  house.  We  began  a  little,  humble  flock, 
but  of  strong  faith  in  God.  We  labored  long  and 
patiently  through  embarrassments  and  difficulties.  We 
have  become  what  the  world  calls  a  strong  and  leading 
church.  We  have,  in  fact,  aided  largely  in  the  religious 
and  charitable  enterprises  which  have  so  greatly  distin- 
guished the  age.  I  suppose  we  may  say  we  have  done 
much  good.  We  have  been  the  means  of  leading  many 
to  heaven.  How  often  here  have  we  seen  men  and 
women,  young  and  old,  come  forward  and  take  the  vows 
of  God  upon  them,  and  consecrate  themselves  to  the 
service  of  the  Redeemer!  True,  our  pastors  have  been 
the  principal  agents  in  this  blessed  work;   yet  every  one 


[37] 

of  US  should  feel  that  we  have  done  something,  how- 
ever little,  and  that  little  may  result  in  more  than  we 
have  any  idea  of. 

How  trifling  are  worldly  pursuits  compared  with  this 
service  !  Wealth  is  desirable  to  provide  us  the  comforts 
of  life,  and  enable  us  to  be  useful  in  the  world.  But 
wealth  of  itself! — suppose  yourself  looking  back  upon 
it  a  hundred  years  hence,  what  a  frivolous  gewgaw  will 
it  seem  !  But  a  million  years  hence,  looking  back  to 
earth,  with  what  exceeding  joy  will  you  remember  your 
labors  for  Christ ! 

All  things  earthly  are  passing  away.  Of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  at  the  time  we  came  into  this  house, 
I  find  only  four  still  remaining  members — John  Shillito, 
Mrs.  Mary  B.  Perry,  Mrs.  Timothy  S.  Goodman,  and 
Miss  Jennett  Twichell,  now  Mrs.  Bliss.  There  are 
some  others,  then  active  members  of  the  congregation, 
who  have  since  joined  the  church.  How  many  of  us 
members  now,  will  be  found  here  forty-two  years  hence  ? 

To  those  of  us  who  have  long  been  here,  this  place 
of  worship  awakens  many  tender  recollections.  It  is 
endeared  by  hallowed  associations.  But  it  is  of  earth, 
and  our  affections  are  not  to  be  set  upon  it.  All  the 
good  it  has  done  us  may  be  carried  with  us  wherever 
we  may  go.  If  we  are  faithful  and  wise,  humble  and 
devoted,  we  trust  that  God  will  prosper  us  hereafter, 
even  more  abundantly  than  He  has  done  heretofore  ; 
and  give  us  all,  both  those  who  have  gone  before  us 
and  those  who  shall  come  after  us,  a  joyful  meeting  in 
a  better  world. 


[38] 


The  Pastor  then   read  the  following   poem,  written 
by  Mrs.  M.  D.  Allen: 

LINES    WRITTEN    ON    LEAVING    THE    SECOND    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

We  come  to-day,  mid  smiles  and  tears, 

A  farewell  offering  now  to  bring 
To  Him  who  through  these  lengthen'd  years 

Hath  taught  our  hearts  and  lips  to  sing  ; 

To  sing  of  that  dear  guiding  hand 

Which  led  Thy  children  here  to  raise, 

A  feeble  few,  yet  faithful  band. 

To  Thee,  this  house  of  prayer  and  praise. 

When  Israel  out  of  bondage  came. 

Obedient  to  Thy  sovereign  will. 
The  pillar  and  the  cloud  became 

A  token  of  Thy  presence  still. 

So  we,  through  many  years  of  love. 

The  pillar  and  the  cloud  have  seen — 
That  faithful  witness  from  above, 

To  teach  our  souls  on  Christ  to  lean. 

Here  weary  hearts  have  sought  that  rest. 

That  perfect  rest  that  Jesus  gives  ; 
And   Faith,  and   Hope,  and  Mercy  blest, 

Have  said,  Look  up,  poor  soul,  and  live  ! 

Here  youthful  hearts  have  learn'd  to  know 

And  love  the  gentle  Shepherd's  voice. 
And,  following  Him  "  through  weal  and  woe," 

Have  in  His  kind  commands  rejoiced. 


[39] 

How  many  of  that  honor'd  band, 

Whose  hearts  were  warm  with  holy  fire. 

Have  safely  reach'd  "  the  better  land," 

And  heard  the  welcome,  "  Come  up  higher  !  " 

And  we,  who  yet  awhile  remain 

To  bear  the  burden  and  the  heat. 
Would  daily  seek  that  strength  to  gain, 

Which  they  receive  who  on  Thee  wait. 

And  when  our  feet  shall  nearer  reach 

That  house  above,  not  made  with  hands, 

And,  weary  with  their  pilgrim  march. 
We  tread  with  joy  the  heavenly  land  ; 

O  be  it  ours  to  hear  that  word, 
j  That  blessed  welcome,  "  Soul,  well  done  ! 

Enter  the  kingdom  of  thy  Lord, 

Enjoy  thy  rest,  receive  thy  crown." 

And  as  we  leave  this  hallowed  spot, 

A  spot  to  heart  and  memory  dear, 
Be  earthly  trials  all  forgot. 

And  Christ  and  Heaven  more  blest  appear. 

The  services  were  then  closed  by  prayer  and  the 
benediction,  and  the  people,  in  silent  sadness,  took 
final  leave  of  their  old  church. 


APPENDIX. 


The  following  list  contains  the  names  of  all  those  who  have  been 
elected  as  Ruling  Elders  and  Deacons  in  the  church,  with  dates  of  their 
election : 

ELDERS. 

Elected  July  lo,  1817. 

Robert  Wallace.  John  Kelso. 

Daniel  Tremper.  Jesse  Churchill. 

February  1 1,  18 19. 
Samuel  Lowry.  John  Lewis. 

July  17,  iBzi. 
John   Rice.  John  Dillingham. 

August    10,    18  24. 
James  Mclntyre. 

June  26,  1826. 
Ralph  Webster.  John  Sullivan. 

September  25,  1828. 

Abraham  Halsey.  James  Warren,  M.  D. 

John  H.  Groesbeck. 

July  14,  1830. 
William  B.  Tappan.  Philip  Skinner. 

William  W.   Greene. 

March  5,  1832. 
Daniel  Corwin.  Augustus  Moore. 


[42] 

January)  30,  1834. 
Nathaniel  Wright.  Thomas  D.  Mitchell,  M.  D. 

December  1 1,  1834. 
Henry  Starr.  Isaac  G.  Burnet. 

*  March  5,  1840. 

Reuben  D.  Mussey,  M.  D.  Osgood  Fifield. 

James  Calhoun.  Ebenezer  S.  Padgett. 

John  Dillingham.  John  C.  Macy. 

March  17,  1852. 

Henry  Y.   Slaymaker.  James  Taylor,  M.  D. 

Eliab  F.  Tucker.  Thomas  C.  Butler,  Jr. 

November  20,  i860. 

William  H.  Allen.  Elliott  H.  Pendleton. 

.     Obadiah  N.  Bush.  Jacob  GrafF. 

Samuel  J.  Broadwell.  George  B.  Bradley. 

November  13,  1867. 

William  H.  Mussey,  M.  D.  William  Howard  NeiF, 

Jacob  Burnet,  Jr. 

DEACONS. 

December  5,  i860. 
John  F.  White,  M.  D.  Simeon  B.  Williams. 

The  acting  officers  of  the  church.  May  i,  1872,  are  as  follows  ; 
The  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Skinner,  D.  D.,  Pastor. 

RULING  ELDERS. 

Nathaniel  Wright.  Elliot  H.  Pendleton. 

James  Taylor,  M.  D.  Jacob  Graff. 

Thomas  O.  Butler.  William  H.  Mussey,  M.  D. 

William  H.  Allen.  William  Howard  Neffi 

Samuel  J.  Broadwell.  Jacob  Burnet,  Jr.,  Clerk. 


[43] 

The  names  of  the  superintendents  of  the  Sabbath-schools  can  not  be 
given,  as  no  perfect  record  of  them  is  found  ;  at  present,  the  super- 
intendent of  the  morning  school  is  Elliot  H.  Pendleton  ;  superintend- 
ent of  the  afternoon  school,  Peter  Rudolph  NefF. 

The  Society  was  incorporated  February  ii,  1829,  with  a  provision 
for  the  election  of  seven  trustees  annually,  to  manage  its  secular  con- 
cerns ;  this  election  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  May  of  each 
year,  and  the  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  elected.  As  some 
were  many  times  re-elected,  and,  to  avoid  a  constant  repetition  of 
names,  the  time,  except  the  last  three  years,  is  divided  into  several 
periods,  and  the  names  uf  those  serving  in  each  period  are  given 
together,  without  specifying  the  precise  date  of  each  election. 


TRUSTEES. 

Elected  from  1829  to  1833,  both  yars  included. 

Jacob  Burnet.  John  T.  Drake. 

Martin  Baura.  Philip  Young. 

John   H.  Groesbeck.  ^             Henry  Starr. 

Nathaniel  Wright.  William  W.  Greene. 

Timothy  S.  Goodman.  Jonathan  Bates. 

Jesse  Kimball.  Jepthah  D.  Garrard. 
James  Hall. 


From  1834  ^'^ 
Timothy  S.  Goodman. 
Jepthah  D.  Garrard. 
Jonathan  Bates. 
Henry   Starr. 
James  Hall. 
Nathaniel  Wright. 
Vachel  Worthington. 
Henry  S.  Kellogg. 


1838,  inclusive. 

George  W.  NefF. 
Charles  S.  Clarkson. 
Samuel  M.  Candler. 
William  F.  Barnes. 
James  Tompkins. 
Amos  P.  Holden. 
Eliab  F.  Tucker. 
Stephen  Schooley. 


From  1839  to  1843,  inclusive. 

John  H.  Groesbeck,  C.  P.  Barnes. 

Henry  Starr.  Nathaniel  Wright, 

Timothy  S.  Goodman.  John  C.  Macy. 

James  Tompkins.  Robert  W.  Burnet. 

Hiram  K.  Wells,  Alexander  H.  Ewing. 

James  Calhoun.  O.  M.  Mitchell. 
Henry  S.   Kellogg. 


[44] 


From  184.4  ^'^  1848,  inclusive. 


George  W.  Neff. 
Henry  S.  Kellogg. 
Alexander  H.  Ewing. 
Robert  W.  Burnet. 
Henry  Starr. 


P.  Campbell 


Amos  P.  Holden. 
John   H.  Groesbeck. 
E.  S.  Padgett. 
R.  D.  Mussey,  M.  D. 
Maynard  French, 


From  1849  to  1854,  i^c^^^^'ve' 

John  H.  Groesbeck.  Maynard  French. 

Henry  Starr.  John  Shillito. 

Robert  W.  Burnet.  N.  C.  McLean. 

Amos  P.  Holden.  Charles  Goodman. 

E.  S.  Padgett.  E.  P.  Starr. 

R.  D.  Mussey,  M.  D.  William  H.  Neff. 

From  1855  to  1859,  inclusive. 

John  H.  Groesbeck.  John  Shillito. 

Robert  W.  Burnet.  E.  P.  Starr. 

E.  S.  Padgett.  William  H.  Neff. 

Maynard  French.  O.  N.  Bush. 

Samuel  J.  Broadwell.  Jacob  Graff. 

Maskell  E.  Curwen.  A.  W.  Neff. 

Frederick  G.  Huntington.  O.  M.  Mitchell. 

From  i860  to  1864,  inclusive. 


John  H.  Groesbeck. 

E.  S.  Padgett. 

Jacob  Graff. 

Frederick  G.  Huntington. 

M.  E.  Curwen. 

R.  W.  Burnet. 

Eli  Johnson. 


Elliot  H.  Pendleton. 
William  S.  Groesbeck. 
George  Wilshire. 
A.  S.  Winslow. 
Pollock  Wilson. 
Aaron  F.  Perry. 
L.  R.  Hull. 


From  1865  to   1869,  inclusive. 

John  Shillito.  John  C.  Huntington. 

George  Wilshire.  William  S.  Groesbeck. 

A.  S.  Winslow.  L.  R.  Hull. 

Hugh  McBurney.  R.  W.  Burnet. 

Peter  Neff.  William  H.  Allen. 

Samuel  J.  Hale. 


[45] 

Elected  1870. 
John  Shillito.  William  S.  Groesbeck. 

Peter  Neff.  George  Wilshire. 

Hugh   McBurney.  A.  S.  Winslow. 

John  C,  Huntington. 

Elected  1871. 
Hugh   McBurney.  Thomas  Morrison. 

Peter  NefF.  Timothy  S.  Goodman,  Jr. 

Thornton  M.  Hinkle.  David   B.  Lupton. 

Henry  A.  Morrill. 

Elected  1872. 
John  Shillito.  William  H.  Harrison, 

A.  S.  Winslow.  Thomas  Morrison. 

L.  R.  Hull.  Hugh  McBurney. 

A.  W.  Williamson. 

The  last  two  resigned,  and  the  vacancies  supplied  by 

T;  M.  Hinkle.  Jacob  Burnet,  Jr. 


SALE    OF    THE    CHURCH    ON    FOURTH    STREET PURCHASE    OF    A    NEW   SITE. 

In  1864,  the  question  of  selling  the  church  lot  on  Fourth  street  be- 
gan to  be  discussed  among  the  members  of  the  society.  That  place 
had  become  an  important  business  center,  and  surrounded  with  the 
usual  disturbances  of  such  a  location.  There  were  diiFerences  of  opin- 
ion on  the  question ;  some  considering  it  important  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  church  to  have  a  more  quiet  and  suitable  place  of  worship — 
while  others  seemed  to  cling  to  this  as  their  old  home,  and  feared  that 
separating  from  it,  would  tend  to  weaken  the  mutual  attachments,  as 
well  as  the  united  energy  of  the  members.  During  1865  and  1866, 
the  matter  was  discussed  by  the  society,  and  plans  for  improving  the 
old  church  also  considered.  In  October,  1866,  however,  the  society, 
at  a  general  meeting,  voted  to  sell,  and  to  purchase  another  lot  and 
build  a  new  church.  But  in  consequence  of  the  price  fixed,  and  other 
impediments,  matters  remained  in  this  situation  until    1871.     At   the 


[46] 

annual  meeting  of  the  society,  May  i,  1871,  the  trustees  were  in- 
structed to  proceed  at  once  to  sell,  without  restricting  them  as  to  price 
or  otherwise,  and  buy  a  lot  and  build  a  new  church.  The  trustees 
elected  at  the  same  time  proceeded  in  the  discharge  of  this  duty.  Mr. 
Robertson,  pastor  of  the  church,  had  resigned  the  preceding  Novem- 
ber, and  it  was  thought  inexpedient  to  sell  the  church  until  a  pastor 
should  be  obtained.  Dr.  Skinner,  being  elected  pastor  in  July,  en- 
tered on  his  services  the  ist  of  November.  In  November,  after  much 
eiFort  to  obtain  the  best  terms,  the  trustees  closed  a  sale  of  the  church 
to  Samuel  Fosdick  for  $160,000,  the  purchaser  to  have  possession  on 
1st  of  May,  1872;  the  price  to  be  regarded  as  cash  of  March  ist,  and 
bearing  interest  from  that  date,  and  interest  deducted  from  any  pay- 
ments made  previous.  The  following  items  were  reserved,  viz : 
organ,  bell,  clock  (belonging  to  the  city),  chandelier,  pulpit  and  its  fur- 
niture, and  the  corner-stone.  [On  examining  this  stone  subsequently, 
its  contents,  to  the  disappointment  of  all,  were  found  entirely  mold- 
ered  to  dust.  They  had  not  been  securely  inclosed.]  Before  the 
sale,  the  society  ordered  that  certificates  be  issued  to  the  owners  of 
pews  for  the  amount  of  the  recorded  valuation  of  their  pews,  which 
should  be  received  in  payment  for  pews  in  the  new  church. 

Concurrent  with  the  foregoing  sale,  the  trustees  purchased  a  site 
for  a  new  church  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Eighth  and  Elm  streets, 
145  feet  on  Elm  and  150  on  Eighth.  In  this  purchase,  the  time  and 
attention  of  the  trustees  were  severely  taxed,  through  November  and 
December,  1871.  The  south  part  of  the  tract,  80  feet  on  Elm,  was 
purchased  of  James  T.  Worthington,  for  $36,000  cash.  The  other 
part,  65  feet  on  Elm,  was  purchased  of  the  heirs  ot  Samuel  Wiggins, 
for  $35,000  cash.  This  part  the  trustees  had  arranged  to  secure  on 
a  perpetual  lease,  but  this  arrangement  finally  failed.  This  ground  is 
part  of  the  premises  of  Judge  Burnet's  family  mansion,  and  the  precise 
site  of  the  proposed  church  was  Mrs.  Burnet's  flower  garden,  in  which 
she  so  much  delighted.  Here  the  trustees  are  proceeding  to  erect  an 
edifice,  which  is  expected  to  be  both  convenient  and  ornamental.  In 
the  meantime  the  society  worship  in  the  hall  of  the  Cincinnati 
College. 


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